Occupational exposures to PAHs measured with UV derivative spectroscopy corrected for advective and gaseous losses

Abstract

PAHs (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) are a group of ubiquitous substances occuring in occupational environments due to combustion of hydrocarbons and coal, vehicle emissions, etc. Some PAHs are known to be carcinogenic in animal tests, and most legislation requires the air concentration of several of them should be kept at minimum values, implying a model of [open quotes]no safe threshold[close quotes]. An adequate analysis of occupational exposures to PAHs in air should satisfy a number of requisites. The sample must be obtained with a personal portable pump, and should cover a substantial or representative part of the working period. Vapor-phase components and particulates both should be samples, and carcinogenice PAHs would be estimated with greater precision. The collection and analytical techniques would require only average trained personnel with the shortest time elapsed between sample collection and producing the results. For several reasons, these simultaneous objectives are sometimes difficult to attain. If the cleanup and evaporation could be obviated, about 7-10 ng could be delivered to the detector chamber with the corresponding increase in detection accuracy. This study extends the use of a newly developed technique of UV-diode array computer enhanced derivative spectroscopy to the analysis of PAHs in particulate samples obtainedmore » in the usual way with personal monitors. This method provides a reliable and conservative estimate of total PAH exposure and lower errors in detection of relatively heavy PAHs. 13 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.« less